Train control



April 13,1926. 1,580,467

C. S. BUSHNELL TRAIN CONTROL Original Filed Jan. 1922 VNTO BY 1%fi23 .AT'TORNEY I Patented Apr. 13,

pairs STATES assen CHARLES S. BUSHNELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL'RAIL- W'AY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

TRAIN CONTROL.

Original application filed January 26, 1922, Serial No. 531,903. Divided and this application filed August 15, 1924. Serial No. 732,222.

To all whommay concern. 1

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. BUSHNELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the count-y of Mon 5 roe and State of hew York, rave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train Control, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic train control systems for railroads, and more particularly to a traclrway influence communicating device for such system.

in train control systems, it is necessary to transmit or communicate controlling influences or impulses from the trackway to moving vehicles, in order that the train control apparatus on each vehicle may be governed in accordance with the presence or absence of other vehicles, positions of 9 switches, and other conditions affecting the safe progress of the vehicle. On account of weather conditions, problems of clearance, and like dlfliculties encountered 1n practice, it is desirable to communicate such 5 controlling influences inductively, that 1s,

safety, so important in railway signalling and train control systems, it is considered preferable to employ an arrangement of. car I apparatus and trackway devices which will act to produce a stopping influence in case of any failure of circuits or the like; and

it is proposed to utilize the magnetic properties of an inert body of iron on the trackway for producing the stopping influence. Since it is desirable to avoid the use of batteries or other sources of current on the trackway, to put the track device into the inactive or nonstopping condition, it is further proposed to employ a track element structure which is caused to assume its inactive conditicn by merely closing a circuit without requiring any electrical energy.

\Vith the type of system generally outlined above, it will be evident that the track rails of crossings, switch points, Water pans, and similar iron and magnetic bodies along the tracliway, will tend to produce an effect upon the car equipment similar to that prowith the present invention to select the location and disposition of the cooperating elements on the car and on the trackway in such a way as to practically eleminate such rail interference. This selection, more particularly, consists in placingthe trackway device, which consists of an unmagnetized magnetic body when in its active condition,

with its top face above the level of the track rails, which incidentally also brings it above similar iron magnetic bodies, such as, crossing rails, sw tch polnts, water pans, and the lik The various specific objects, characteristic features, and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out as the description of the specific embodiments progresses. i

'In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1' is a plan View of the track el ment and-its mounting embodying the present invention, and shows its location with respect to a track rail;

F 1g. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the track element shown in Fig.

1; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail transverse sections through the track element, taken respectively on the lines 33, 44 and 5-5 in Fig. 2. v

This application is a division of prior application by Charles S. Bushnell, Serial Number 531,903, filed January 26, 1922; for train control systems for railroads, and for convenience the same reference charactors have been applied to the various parts illustrated in the drawings of this application as in said prior application. I Referring now to the drawings there has been shown only one specific construction of a track element embodying the presentinv'ention. In this specific construction, the

core 15 of the track element is made up of a back yoke and two legs. The back yoke of this core 15 is formed of soft iron laminations riveted together, and is of a cruciform cross section (see Fig. 3). Part of the laminations of this back yoke are cut away at the ends to form a seat for the two vertical legs, which are formed of a stacking of laminations riveted together. These two vertical legs are capped by enlarged square pole pieces 89, either solid as shown, or made up of a stacking of laminations. The back yoke, legs, and pole pieces 89 have their e2.- gaging surfaces finished for intimate magnetic contact and are clamped together by two bolts 90 passing through the pole pieces 89 and a bottom saddle 9i, shown in Fig. 4t. On the back yoke is the coil or winding 16, preferably form wound.

The support or mounting for the track element comprises a heavy wooden beam 92, preferably of oak, which has arecess or cavity near the middle to receive the core 15 and its coil 16, this cavity being provided with one or more drainage holes 93, and holes for the lead wires 94: of the coil 16, said lead wires being carried through a wooden trunking or conduit to the relay case in which the corresponding line relay is located. The wooden beam 923s fastened to the ends of the ties 95 outside of the track rail 1. In the construction shown, this fas tening is provided by two heavy stirrups 96 fitting over the beam 92 and firmly secured to one of the ties by lag screws or spikes. Near the middle point of the beam 92 are small angle brackets 97 fastened to said beam by through bolts 98 and to a tie 95 by lag screws or the like. At each end of the track element is a hollow inclined cap or fender 99 of non-magnetic material, preferably a manganese steel casting. Each cap 99 is fastened near one end to the wooden beam 92 by a bolt 100, and at the other end to the corresponding pole piece 89, this latter fastening connection being preferably made in the manner shown by rivets with interposed sheets of fiber or other insulating material. The space between the pole pieces 89 is housed and protected by a metal cap 101, also a manganese steel casting, which fits snugly around said pole pieces and is provided with side flanges protecting the coil 16, and has extended lips at the ends riveted to the pole pieces 89, as shown. The ends of the beam 92 are beveled and are protected by a steel plate or a casting 102, one end of which is fastened to a tie by lag screws or the like, and the other end of which is riveted or bolted to an extending lip of the corresponding non-magnetic cap 99.

The construction of the mounting for the track element just described affords a rigid and solid support, which serves to protect the element from injury by dragging equiprace 1e? ment. The faslenings to the ties are all exposed, and may be readily removed to per mit replacement of a tie. The caps 99 and 101 are made of manganese steel to avoid interference with the proper ogeration of the car element, for the reasons that will be clear from the preceding description. This covering or cap for the track element is made in sections 99 and 101, separated and insulated electrically from each other, in order to avoid an uninterrupted metallic body around the pole pieces 89 in whiclf eddy currents would be induced and interfere with the best performance of the system.

A trackway device has thus been devised, which constitutes an inert unmagnetized body of magne c material when in its atnive condition, which is disposed above the level of the track rails and other magnetic bodies usually associated with a railway track, so

to facilitate an inductive influence communicating advantage of this device upon the oar-carried device over that of such other magnetic bodies upon such car-carried device. Also, this trackway device and the coil associated therewith is effectively housed by a suitable non-magnetic casing which is so.

shaped and constructed that the casing is substantially immune to eddy currents and does not renuce the mechanical clearance between said device and suitable car-carried devices adapted to cooperate therewith.

Having thus shown and described one specific embodiment of the invention in a rather specilic manner, it is desired to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of facilitating the problem of disclosing the invention, rather than for the purpose of showing the exact construction preferably employed in practice or the scope of the invention, and it is desired to be understood that the specific disclosures herein are susceptible of considerable adaptation and modification in practice, without departing from the invention. A

lVhat I claim is 1. A track element for transmitting control influences for auton'iatic train control systems comprising, non-magnetic casing, pole pieces supported from said casing in the plane of one surface thereof, a il-shaimd laminated core supported from said pole pieces and a winding on the backyoliic of said tl-shaped core.

2. A track element for transmitting control influences for automatic train chntrol systems comprising, a non-magnetic inetallic casing, pole pieces suppottedby but insulated from said casing, and a U shaped core supported from said pole pieces.

3. A track element for transmitting control influences for automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic metallic casing, pole pieces supported by but insulated from. said casing, a ti-shaped core meme? supported from said .polepieces, and winding on said U-shaped core.

4-. A trackvvay device for automatic train control systemsof the intermittent inductive type comprising, a box-like casing of non-magnetic material having inclined approaches, a core of magnetic material havin'g enlarged pole pieces supported. in said casing by having its pole pieces resting on said casing, and a cover of non-magnetic material extending between said pole pieces.

5. A trackway device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a box-likecasing of nonmagnetic material having inclined approaches, a core of magnetic material having enlarged pole pieces supported in said casing by having its pole pieces resting on said casing, and a U-shaped hood of non-magnetic material extending between said pol-e pieces and on opposite sides of said core.

6. A trackway device for automatic-train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a box-like casing of non-magnetic material having inclined approaches, a. core of magnetic materialhaving enlarged pole pieces supported in said casing by having its pole pieces resting on said casing, and a cover of nonmagnetic metal fastened to and extending between said pole pieces.

7 A trackway device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a U-shaped core consisting of a back yoke of. cruciform cross-sectional configuration and of legs of rectangular shape, and a casing of non magnetic material for housing said core.

8. A trackw'ay device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising,- a casing of nonmagnetic metal having holes in the top face thereof and having ramped approaches, a U -shapcd core terminating in enlarged pole pieces located to have said pole pieces in said holes,

said casing being provided with a slot to prevent the flow of eddy currents due to a change of flux emanating from said pole pieces around said pole pieces.

9. A trackway device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a box-like casing of non-magnetic material having inclined ap proaches, a core of magnetic material having enlarged pole pieces supported in said casing by having its pole pieces resting on said cas ing, a coil on said core and a cover of nonmagnetic material extending between said pole pieces.

10. A trackawy device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a box-like casing of non-magnetic material having inclined approaches, a core of magnetic material having enlarged pole pieces supported in said casing by having its pole pieces resting on said casing,a coil onsaid core anda U- shaped hood of non-magnetic material extendin'g'between said pole pieces and on opposite sides of said core and coil.

- 11.. A trackway device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent induc U-shaped core terminating in enlarged pole pieces located to have said pole pieces in said holes, a coil on said core, said casing being provided with a slot to prevent the flow of eddy currents due to a change of flux emanating from said pole pieces aroun'c said pole pieces.

13. A track element for transmitting control influences for automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic casing having substantially rectangular aligned openings, pole pieces secured in said openings, a U-shaped magnetic core secured to said pole pieces and extending within said casing, and a coil on said core.

14. A track-way device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type, comprising a casing of non-magnect-ic material having inclined approaches and a plainupper surface, a plurality of aligned openings in said upper surface, pole pieces secured in said openings with their upper faces in the plane of the upper surface of said casing, and a U-shaped magnetic core secured to and extending between said pole pieces within said casing.

15. A track-way device for transmitting control influences for automatic train control systems comprising, a non-magnetic casing having inclined approaches and a horizontal cap portion between said approaches, rectangular openings in the upper surface of said casing between said approaches and said cap portion, pole pieces secured in said openings, a U-shaped, magnetic core secured between said pole pieces and extending within said casing, and means for electrically insulating said pole pieces and said cap portion irom said approaches.

16. A track-way device for automatic train control systems of the intermittent inductive type comprising, a non-magnetic metallic casing, openings in the upper surface of said casing, magnetic pole pieces secured in said 0 enings, a U-shaped core of magnetic material secured between said pole pieces Within said casing, and insulating means for preventing the flow of the electrical current in said casing in a closed path around said pole pieces.

17. In a track-Way device for automatic train control system of intermittent inductive, type, a U-shaped core of magnetic matcrial having pole pieces, a casing of nonmagnetic metal supportingsaid pole pieces in openings in one surface thereof, and enclosing said core, and insulating means for preventing the flow of current in said casing around said openings.

18. A trackway device for transmitting control influences for automatic train control systems comprising, a U-shaped core of magnetic material disposed outside the track rails and parallel thereto, a housing of inverted U-shaped cross-section having inclined ends and supporting said core from the upper surface thereof, and a lower cover portion extending between the lower edges of said housing and inclosing said core.

19. A trackway device for transmitting control influences for automatic train coir trol systems comprising a u shaped core of magnetic material having upwardly extending poles and a back yoke, said core being disposed outside the track rails and parallel thereto, a housing of inverted U-shaped cross-section having openings in its upper surface and inclined ends, said upwardly extending poles of said core being supported in said aligned openings and flush with the upper surface of said casing and said back yoke extending within said casing, a coil on said back yoke, and a lower cover portion extending between the lower edges of said housing and enclosing said core.

20. A trackway device for transmitting yoke and integral upstanding ends, said core being disposed outside of the track rails and parallel thereto, a coil on said back yoke and pole pieces secured to said upstanding ends, a housing for said core and coil comprising a non-n'iagnetic metallic casing of inverted U-shaped cross-section having aligned openings in the upper surface thereof and inclined ends, a lower cover portion extending between the lower edges of said casing, saic pole pieces being secured in said openings with their upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of said casing and said back yoke and coil supported within said casing from said pole pieces, and insulating means for preventing the flow of currents in said casing around said pole pieces.

21. A trackway device for automatic train control systems comprising a U-shaped core of laminated magnetic material having a back yoke of cruciform cross-section and integral legs of rectangular shape, and a casing enclosing said core.

22. A trackway device for automatic train control systems comprising a U-shaped core of laminated magnetic material, the lamina of said core being of difierent idths to form a back yoke of cruciform cross-section, upstanding ends on certain of said lamina forming integral legs on said core, pole pieces secured to said legs and a casing supporting said pole pieces in the plane of the upper surface thereof, said casing completely enclosing said core.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature.

CHARLES. S. BUSHNELL. 

